Teaching Resources & Research
Teaching Resources
Online lessons – Parent information
An Information package created by Lotus Centre to help parents prepare for online music lessons.
Online lessons – Teacher information
An Information package created by Lotus Centre offering teachers suggestions and tips for teaching online music lessons.
The Music Circle – Program Guidebook
A free guidebook that provides educators, musicians and administrators with guidelines and resources to develop or enhance music learning and concert opportunities for people with special needs.
The Music Circle – Video series
A free video series providing information and strategies to foster musical engagement for the special needs community.
Lotus Centre is an active research centre
Research is part of our comprehensive approach to improving access to engaging and appropriate music education opportunities for the special needs community. To this end, we conduct independent research and partner with others in the academic community to further advance our knowledge and understanding of best practices in special music education. Our team contributes regularly to conference proceedings across Canada and internationally.
Research
Parkes, E. & Sabo, J. (2023). Empathy-based behaviour support in music teaching. Canadian Music Educator, 64(2), 26-35.
Parkes, E. & Sabo, J. (2023, July). Empathy-based Behaviour Support in Music Teaching : Understanding Causes and Providing Solutions. Paper presented at the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations : A Rhythm Runs Through It, Online conference.
Parkes, E. (2023, June). Supporting Students with Anxiety in the Music Studio. Paper presented at the National Congress on Keyboard Pedagogy, Online conference.
Breaden, M. & Parkes, E. (2023, May). An Integrated Model of Music Therapy and Music Education and Applications for Children with Neurodevelopmental Conditions. Paper presented at the Music and Health Research Institute Conference, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.
Parkes, E. & Koravand, A. (2023, May). Effect of Singing Lessons on Auditory Processing in Children with APD. Paper presented at the Music and Health Research Institute Conference, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.
Richards, J. & Parkes, E. (2023, May). Family and Caregiver Experiences in Adaptive Music Concerts. Paper presented at the Music and Health Research Institute Conference, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.
Parkes, E., Unrau, A., Fisk, S. & Marsella, R. (2023, May). Creating Inclusive Environments in After-School Music Programs. Paper presented at the Music and Health Research Institute Conference, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.
Parkes, E. (2023, April). Creating Safe and Engaging Inclusive Music Performances. Paper presented at the ABLE Assembly, Berklee College, Online conference.
Waterman, E. & Parkes, E. (2022, November). Bridging Distance and Difference through Networked Improvisation. Paper presented at the AMS-SEM-SMT Joint Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Parkes, E. (2022, July). Using Fixed Do Solfege, Manipulatives, and Visual Aids to Support Pitch Learning in Students with Autism. Paper presented at the Preconference Seminar ISME Commission on Special Music Education and Music Therapy, Online conference.
Parkes, E. & Waterman, E. (2022, July). Expanding the Music Circle : Bridging Distance and Difference through Improvisation. Paper presented at the Preconference Seminar ISME Commission on Special Music Education and Music Therapy, Online conference.
Parkes, E., Sabo, J., MacAfee, E. & Jardaneh, N. (2022, July). Anxiety and Music Learning: Supportive Strategies for Students. Roundtable presented at the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations Connecting Canada, Online conference.
Parkes, E. (2022, April). Creating Accessibility in Classical Music Institutions. Paper presented at the ABLE Assembly, Berklee College, Online conference.
Sabo, J. & Parkes, E. (2021, July). Building a Multimodal Toolbox for Teaching Students with Exceptionalities. Workshop presented at the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations Connecting Canada: Musical Diversity from Coast to Coast to Coast, Online conference.
Sabo, J. & Parkes, E. (2021, July). What Students Can Do: A Strengths-based Approach to Special Music Education. Paper presented at the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations Connecting Canada: Musical Diversity from Coast to Coast to Coast, Online conference.
Parkes, E. (2021, June). Adaptive Music Education for People with Disabilities. Roundtable discussion presented at the Comparative Pedagogy in Cross-Disciplinary Dimension online conference, Kyiv National Linguistic University, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Parkes, E. (2020, October). Beyond Sensory-Friendly: The Music Circle Program. Paper presented at the ABLE Assembly, Boston, USA.
Koravand, A., Parkes, E., Duquette-Laplante, F., Bursch, C., & Tomaszewski, S. (2019). The effects of singing lessons on speech evoked brainstem responses in children with central auditory processing disorders. Canadian Acoustics, 47(2), 31-40.
Parkes, E., & Simpson, E. (2019, June). Orchestras and social inclusion: Reports from the field. Round table discussion presented at Orchestras Canada National Conference, Ottawa, ON.
Parkes, E., & Tomaszewski, S. (2019, May). Using vocal training to improve pitch and training processing in children with auditory processing disorder. Paper presented at Canadian Association for Music Therapy 2019 Conference, Gatineau, QC.
Parkes, E., Cimon, G., & Simpson, E. (2018, July). The Music Circle Project: A gateway to music for people with special needs. Paper presented at the Preconference Seminar ISME Commission on Special Music Education and Music Therapy, Salzburg, Austria.
Parkes, E., & Tomaszewski, S. (2018, July). Would singing lessons serve to provide improvement in pitch and timing in the auditory brainstem? A pilot study. Paper presented at the Preconference Seminar ISME Commission on Special Music Education and Music Therapy, Salzburg, Austria.
Parkes, E., Rassner-Pazur, S., & Racicot, K. (2017, October). The Music Circle Project: A collaborative music making experience. Plenary session presented at the Celebrating Canadian Diversity: Building Bridges in Arts and Learning Conference, Ottawa, ON.
Parkes, E., Cimon, G., & Simpson, E. (2017, September). The Music Circle: Building a collaborative program for people with special needs. Paper presented at the North American Community: Uniting for Equity Conference, Gatineau, QC.
Bursch, C., Parkes, E., Koravand, A., & Tomaszewski, S. (2016, September). Would singing lessons serve to provide improvement of pitch and timing in the auditory brainstem? Pilot study. Paper presented at the 33rd World Congress of Audiology, Vancouver, BC.
Parkes, E. (2016, July). Preparing studio music teachers to teach students with autism. Paper presented at Preconference Seminar ISME Commission on Special Music Education and Music Therapy, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Parkes, E. (2016, July). ADAPT: A comprehensive model for special music education in a private lesson setting. Workshop presented at Preconference Seminar ISME Commission on Special Music Education and Music Therapy, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Parkes, E. (2015, October). Improving music teachers’ perceived self-efficacy in teaching students with autism. Paper presented at Creating Education Environments that Embrace Diversity: Conference of the North American Chapter-World Council for Curriculum and Instruction, Nashville, TN.
Parkes, E. (2013, October). Building a music-centered community for students with special needs. Paper presented at 2013 Interdisciplinary Education Conference of the World Council for Curriculum and Instruction, Montreal, QC.
Parkes, E. (2012, November). Understanding autism spectrum disorder and how to teach affected students. Workshop presented at Music Learning: Benefits for the 21st-Century Learner, Laval University, QC.